I said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! Which is the biggest sin?" He said, "To set up rivals to Allah by worshipping others though He alone has created you." I asked, "What is next?" He said, "To kill your child lest it should share your food." I asked, "What is next?" He said, "To commit illegal sexual intercourse with the wife of your neighbor."
Limits and Punishments set by Allah (Hudood)
Sahih al-Bukhari - Hadith 6811
The Three Greatest Sins: A Scholarly Commentary
This profound hadith from Sahih al-Bukhari establishes a hierarchy of major sins, beginning with the gravest offense against Allah's divine rights (Huquq Allah) and progressing to severe violations against human rights (Huquq al-'Ibad).
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) identifies shirk (associating partners with Allah) as the ultimate transgression because it corrupts the very foundation of faith (aqidah) and denies Allah's exclusive right to worship. Classical scholars like Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani explain that this sin is unforgivable if one dies upon it, as it violates the primary purpose of creation.
Killing one's child from fear of poverty represents a gross violation of trust and natural affection. Scholars note this was a pre-Islamic practice condemned by Islam, emphasizing that sustenance is from Allah alone, and no human should usurp Allah's role as Provider.
Adultery with a neighbor's wife combines multiple transgressions: violating marital sanctity, betraying community trust, and destroying social harmony. Imam al-Nawawi comments that the specific mention of "neighbor" highlights the compounded sin of betraying one who deserves protection and good treatment according to Islamic neighborly rights.
Legal and Spiritual Implications
These sins fall under both hudood (prescribed punishments) and major kabair sins requiring sincere repentance. While shirk has no worldly punishment if repented from, murder and adultery carry severe legal consequences in Islamic jurisprudence when proven under strict evidential requirements.
The ordering teaches us that rights of Allah precede rights of creation, yet violations against humans are equally grave when they disrupt the moral fabric Allah has established for society.